Heritage, Archaeology and History BA (Hons)

This course will be attractive if you are interested in learning more about the past and the way in which it is used by the heritage industry. You will explore historical and archaeological evidence and interpretations of it. The past can be exploited; it can be corrupted; it can be used to create myths, legends and identities. This course will enable you to understand and critique these processes.

Why choose Bangor University for this course?

This a unique degree that has been designed to give you an academic understanding of the past which you can then apply to careers in the heritage industry. This is a different emphasis from many heritage management courses which mix studies in leisure, tourism and business.

The School has an excellent teaching reputation.

Our staff specialise in the archaeology of Britain and Ireland, with some European archaeology. We offer modules which include prehistory, Roman, early medieval and medieval archaeology as well as landscape archaeology and heritage.

There are opportunities to take a work placement in a museum or at a heritage site which will give you experience of the industry.

Our location gives access to a rich resource of local heritage sites, monuments and museums and we also arrange trips to other heritage sites in England and Ireland. There is the opportunity to gain practical archaelogical experience.

Key Facts from UniStats

You will spend between 8 and 10 hours per week in lectures, seminars and tutorials. You will spend about twice this amount of time reading and completing coursework. Field trips are a key element of the course but these are not compulsory. We arrange visits to local sites - archaeological, historical and heritage - to museums, heritage sites and country houses elsewhere.

Assessment involves a mixture of written work, essays, examinations, projects, presentations and the dissertation (in the final year).

Some modules offered as part of the Heritage, Archaeology and History degree are available in Welsh. You may write essays and examinations in Welsh if you wish.

The best aspect of both schools has to be the lecturers - each one I’ve met is extremely knowledgeable, always approachable, and clearly invested in the subjects they teach.

Megan LanghamHistory and English

What will you study on this course?

Year 1

Compulsory modules:

Introduction to Archaeological Principles and Techniques

History and Heritage: an Introduction

Past Unwrapped

And two from:

Introduction to Modern History 1815-1914

Apocalypse Then: the Crisis of the Fourteenth Century

Birth of Modern Europe

Year 2

Compulsory module:

Debating History

Optional modules:

Choose from a range of modules in History, Heritage and Archaeology. The work placement is also a popular option.

Year 3

You specialise in a period of the past and write a dissertation which integrates at least two areas of study – Archaeology/Heritage or History/Heritage.

Compulsory modules:

Special Subject, e.g. The Norman Conquest, Ruled by an Orange, Land and Power in England and Wales 1780-1888, Celtic Revival 1880-1920

Dissertation

You also choose options from a range of modules in History, Archaeology and Heritage e.g. Heritage and Identity.

The complementary nature of these disciplines will enable you to pursue a career in the heritage industry by means of the practical and theoretical skills acquired in heritage, coupled with a clear understanding of the archaeological and historical contexts. More generally, this degree will provide you with a range of analytical and presentational skills enabling you to tackle a variety of careers in the humanities, tourism and the media.

A degree in archaeology equips students with a wide range of skills necessary to enter into a career in heritage, archaeology or the museums sector. It also provides key transferrable skills, such as:

The ability to collate, analyse and contextualise data-sets

An ability to critically review the literature and formulate logical and structured arguments

Develop written and presentation and practical archaeological skills as well as working as part of a team.

Writing and editorial skills

An appreciation of the complexity and diversity of situations, events and past mentalities

Experience gained from carrying out and completing a major research project in the third year – the dissertation

A range of practical skills acquired through survey, excavation and the study of material evidence

Good IT skills

Time management skills

These transferable skills are fundamental to other employment sectors, such as the public sector, teaching, tourism, law, accountancy and management.

Work experience opportunities at Bangor University

Year 2 and 3 students are provided with the opportunity to complete work-placement modules, which can be carried out in the university or through external organizations. These are assessed as part of the final degree. The programme enhances employability prospects and offers an insight into the type of employment opportunities a degree in history or archaeology offers. Students have undertaken placements in a wide range of workplaces, including archives, archaeological units, museums and heritage centres.

For more information on employment opportunities in archaeology, please click here

It is now possible to supplement your degree with the Bangor Employability Award. For more information on this award, please click here.

Employability and the School of History and Archaeology

The strength of a History and Archaeology degree is its intellectual breadth and flexibility. This makes our graduates an attractive proposition for employers looking for analytical and lateral thinkers.

Transferable skills

Studying History, Archaeology and Heritage prepares our students for the workplace by providing academic skills and honing personal ones:

Research skills and the evaluation of data sets

Critical thinking

Writing and editorial skills

Confidence and flexibility

Independent and team working

Communication and presentation skills

IT and Time management

Practical skills in archaeology (survey, excavation and the study of material evidence).

Work experience while you study

The School’s work placement module provides an insight into the type of employment to which a degree in History or Archaeology can lead.

Students gain work experience in:

Archives

Schools

Heritage sites (National Trust, Cadw, English Heritage)

Heritage railways

Museums

Westminster Parliament and the Welsh Assembly

Archaeological digs and units

Trusts and charities

Read what our students say about the workplace experience (link to work placement page).

Directed personal and professional development while studying helps our students achieve a CV that catches the attention of prospective employers.

In addition to a degree, Bangor students can provide prospective employers with a record of academic and non-academic achievements through the Bangor Employability Award Scheme (BEA) and HEAR report.

Career opportunities

History, Archaeology and Heritage students enter careers in many different fields:

Archaeological units, archives and librarianship

Museums and heritage management

Research (Academic and the media – television, radio, film).

Teaching in primary, secondary and higher education

Business and finance professions

Law

Commercial, industrial and public service management

Marketing, sales and public relations

Civil service, charities and local and regional government

Personnel

Leisure and travel

Tourism

Work experience opportunities at Bangor University

Level 5 and 6 students are provided with the opportunity to complete work-placement modules, which can be carried out in the university or through external organizations. These are assessed as part of the final degree. The programme enhances employability prospects and offers an insight into the type of employment opportunities a degree in history or archaeology offers. Students have undertaken placements in a wide range of workplaces, including archives, archaeological units, museums and heritage centres.

Employment Opportunities

Examples of employment opportunities in history and archaeology can be found at the following sites:

Opportunities at Bangor

The University’s Careers and Employability Service provides a wide range of resources to help you achieve your graduate ambitions. Developing your personal skills and enhancing your employability while at university is becoming increasingly important in today’s job market.

The Bangor Employability Award enables students to build on their transferable skills through the recognition of activities they become involved in during their university life. Students can gain points towards the award through extra-curricular activities such as volunteering, attending workshops or actively participating in the Students’ Union’s clubs and societies.

The HEAR is a final graduation report that all undergraduates receive. The report itemises all academic achievements and additional extra and co-curricular achievements. Academic achievements appear on the report automatically and students are able to note their eligible activities by using the online platform ‘My Employability Hub’. This ensures that future employers are made aware of the additional skills the student has gained outside of the curriculum.

The Award is open to everyone and taking part in the scheme can make a major difference to your performance in the graduate job market.

Internships

Bangor University runs undergraduate and postgraduate internship schemes twice a year, which allow students to work in a professional environment while learning relevant skills and earning money.

Internships offer valuable experience in a professional workplace and there are a range of internships you can get involved in.

Student Volunteering

Not only is volunteering worthwhile – it also improves your employability and widens your experience.

The Students’ Union has a dedicated Student Volunteering Office (SVB) which currently contributes a total of 600 hours each week, promoting a close relationship between the university and the local community. Find out more on the Student Volunteering pages of the Bangor Student’s Union website.

Working while you Study

The JobZone is the University’s Student Employment Bureau. They advertise the following opportunities:

112-120 tariff points from a level 3* qualification – History preferred. *Level 3 qualifications include A levels, BTEC, Access, Irish Highers, International Baccalaureate, Welsh Baccalaureate, Scottish Advanced Highers and others – for a full list, please refer to the new UCAS tariff at www.ucas.com.

We also welcome applications from mature applicants, individuals with European qualifications and international applicants (subject to minimum English language requirements).

For 2018 entry:

112-120 tariff points from a level 3* qualification – History preferred. *Level 3 qualifications include A levels, BTEC, Access, Irish Highers, International Baccalaureate, Welsh Baccalaureate, Scottish Advanced Highers and others – for a full list, please refer to the new UCAS tariff at www.ucas.com.

We also welcome applications from mature applicants, individuals with European qualifications and international applicants (subject to minimum English language requirements).

General University entry requirements

We accept students with a wide range of qualifications and backgrounds and consider each application individually.

All students need to have good basic skills and the University also values IT and communication skills.

As part of the University’s policy we consider applications from prospective disabled students on the same grounds as all other students.

To study a degree, diploma or certificate course you’ll be asked for a minimum of UCAS Tariff points. For a fuller explanation of the UCAS Tariff Points, please see www.ucas.com

We also consider applications from mature students who can demonstrate the motivation and commitment to study a university programme. Each year we enrol a significant number of mature students. For more help and advice about being a mature student at Bangor, please visit the Study at Bangor site.

Specific entry requirements can be seen on the individual course pages.

EU and International students' entry requirements

For information and further detailed guidance on entry requirements for EU and International Students, including the minimum English Language entry requirement, please visit the Entry Requirements by Country pages. International applicants can also visit the International Education Centre section of our website for further details.

If you attend your Graduation Ceremony, there will be a cost for gown hire (£25-£75) and cost for guest tickets (£12 each).

Course-specific additional costs
Depending on the course you are studying, there may be additional course-specific costs that you will be required to meet. These fall into three categories:

Mandatory Costs: these are related to a particular core or compulsory module that you’ll be required to complete to achieve your qualification e.g. compulsory field trips, uniforms for students on placement, DBS Check.

Necessarily Incurred Costs: these may not be experienced by all students, and will vary depending on the course e.g. professional body membership, travel to placements, specialist software, personal safety equipment.

Optional Costs: these depend on your choice of modules or activity and they are shown to give you an indication of the optional costs that may arise to make sure your choice is as informed as possible. These can include graduation events for your course, optional field trips, Welcome Week trips.

Mandatory Costs:

There are no mandatory costs, but if a student spends £50 on books per module then it would cost £300 pa.

Necessarily Incurred Costs:

Travel to placements: Some basic travel costs might be incurred depending on the location of the placement. An average example would be 2 weeks, public transport, £40.

Optional Costs:

Extra costs might be incurred if students decide to purchase more books, but this optional and entirely down to the individual.

The early closing date is October 15 for all Oxbridge, Medicine, Dentistry and Veterinary students. The main closing date for all applications is January 15.

Your Personal Statement

Writing your Personal Statement is the part of the application form that requires most work. You are only allowed 47 lines or 500–550 words to explain why you wish to study the course and the skills you have that are essential for university study.

To write a successful personal statement for your UCAS application you must have a good understanding about the course and its content. Remember that you write only one personal statement for your five choices. Make sure that the courses are similar, if not the same, and make sure that you do not mention a specific course or university.

Contact us

Studying History with us

We are a centre of academic excellence offering high-quality, research-led teaching

History has been taught at Bangor since the foundation of the University in 1884 – we have a wealth of experience and a strong sense of tradition

Our expertise spans medieval, early modern, modern and contemporary history as well as Welsh history, archaeology and heritage

We are recognised for outstanding pastoral care and award-winning teaching

Bangor is an inspiring location in which to study history, particularly Welsh History in which we have an unrivalled research record

The School has an excellent teaching reputation with an emphasis on small group teaching and one-on-one support

Our community of students, lecturers and researchers is a friendly and stimulating place to work and study

The School has a proven record of research achievement, with the regular publication of books and articles by staff with international reputations in their fields

Bangor is located in an area with an outstanding range of archaeology monuments: prehistoric tombs and stone circles, Roman forts, native farmsteads, and medieval castles including the World Heritage sites of Beaumaris, Caernarfon and Conwy

Students are encouraged to take part in excavations and there are opportunities to work in the local Archaelogical unit, museums and archives

Studying at Bangor

Rated Gold for teaching

We have been awarded a Gold rating, the highest rating possible, for the standarad of our teaching in the Teaching Excellence Framework (TEF) assessment. The TEF assessment took into account teaching quality, learning environment and student outcomes and learning gain. We were judged to deliver consistently outstanding teaching, learning and outcomes for our students and our teaching is of the highest quality found in the UK.

A top 10 university

The National Student Survey (NSS) results place Bangor amongst the UK’s top 10 universities (excluding specialist institutions) for student satisfaction. This reflects the University’s focus on overall student experience.